Herman Miller

The Capelli stool is just two identical pieces of molded plywood, each with undulating, interlocking fingers at the top. That's it. No screws, no nails.It's an ingeniously stable and graceful piece of furniture that comes apart quickly into two pieces easy to store or move. To assemble, you just fit the plywood "fingers" together. No tools or fasteners required. Then sit down. It's sturdy enough to hold you.

Carol Catalano is known for innovations in high-end audio speakers, consumer electronics, seating, and cutlery. "Most of my work is fairly technical in nature," she says, "so I thought it would be fun to take on a project just for fun." Catalano's "fun" became the Capelli stool. Once she had found her inspiration in her own hands, she developed several ideas for the stool by studying the ergonomics of comfortable sitting. Using cardboard and foam models, she and her staff at Catalano Design took the Capelli stool from concept to museum-quality prototype in less than two months.